"Hey hey hey, Eleanor, have you heard we're getting a new co-worker today?"

Not even five minutes has gone by since I arrived at work, and I haven't even had my morning coffee, something that makes me slightly grumpy since I am so not a morning person. With a slightly sleepy and grumpy voice I try my best to respond politely. "Hmm no sorry, I'm honestly more interested in the work aspect of, well, work. So I'm not that caught up on rumors."

My coworker looks at me with a slightly surprised expression, before realization dawns and reflects on his face. "Ah, yeah, I keep forgetting you're working instead of joining us for drinks after work. Anyways there's apparently a new girl joining our department, and she's being put into your team from what I hear. She's also supposed to be some sort of genius when it comes to AI development."

AI development? Genius? That caught my attention. My non-existent cat ears metaphorically perking up in excitement. "Oh? Now that is interesting." He just gives me a puzzled look before turning back towards his desk. What was his name again? Ar...Aron? Alan? Oh right, Arthur.

Only a few seconds after I've turned my attention back to my holo-screen the entire room turns completely silent. Nothing, no sound at all. The anomaly catching my attention as I turn my head upwards and start scanning the room for the source of...silence. And goddess did I find it. In the doorway stands possibly the most stunning woman I've ever seen in my life. It's like we're on opposite sides of a spectrum. I'm fairly short, around 155 cm, petite and well, some do call me cute. She on the other hand, with a height that is equal to some men. Gorgeous blonde hair that falls to her waist and slightly curls at the end. Her figure is as far away from mine as possible, and if she started sprouting succubus horns and tail, I don't think anyone would be surprised. The most impressive part is she's not even wearing anything revealing. A completely normal black office outfit. Pleaded knee-length black skirt, and a white blouse with a black jacket matching the skirt. 

Snapping out of my daze I notice everyone else in the room was in the same trance-like state, men and women alike. That honestly seems troublesome if this is the effect she's had all her life on everyone. The amount of unwanted attention she'd get must be annoying.  Wait, why is she walking towards me? Oh...the manager is with her. I honestly think nobody in this room even realized he entered with her. 

"Eleanor, this is Alicia. She'll be sitting next to you so I hope you can help her with the unfamiliarity of a new work place."

As I am now in a state of grumpy coffee-less angry kitten, with a sprinkle of succubus trance, it took me a few seconds to even register the words he spoke. "Oh, um. Yes. Hi, I'm Eleanor, nice to meet you. I'll uh, do what I can to help you." Oh no, I accidentally looked at her face and our eyes locked. Her eyes are so blue and sparkly. Like a mix of a glacier and Caribbean ocean, however that mix works out. As my brain is currently short-circuiting, I'm forgetting to turn my gaze away and I just simply...stare. Probably for far too long. Her eyes turn slightly wider, and her face takes on a look like she suddenly realized something. Rebooting my brain I slightly tilt my head as I contemplate on what that face meant. My dark-brown hair cascading over my shoulder and a few stray hairs dangling in front of my eyes. My attention turns to the few strands of loose hair which I then attempt to blow out of the way.

A low chuckle then drags my attention back to Alicia, and realization of my clumsiness dawns on me, turning my cheeks slightly flush with embarrassment.

"Thank you manager, I think we'll get along just fine." She then turns back to me and gives me a wink that causes me to again tilt my head in confusion.

The manager is just looking at the two of us, turns to Alicia with a nod, and then walks back out of the room. Leaving me in slight confusion with the slightly intimidating Alicia. My gears start to turn and I come up with an escape to give me some time to calm down.

"Uhm. I'm going to go get some coffee, do you want me to bring you one aswell?"

Her eyes stare into mine with a piercing gaze as she slightly chuckles like she saw through my poor attempt at escaping the situation. Apparently deciding to let the little kitten live another day, she just smiles. "Yes please."

After realizing my entire body is frozen, I manage to utter a somewhat coherent sentence. "Oh uh, do you want any um, milk or sugar?"

Alicia's cheeks gains a very faint pink blush at my question. Did I say something wrong?

In a slight whisper she utters a single word. "Half." Half? half what? My brain is trying to compute the equation she just threw at me and after a few seconds I come up with the only possibly answer I can think of. "Half milk, half...coffee?"

Her earlier embarrassment gone as it never existed, she regains her aura of confidence and gives me a nod. I give her a faint smile as I stand up and rush out of the room. I really need some time to calm down.